Pacem in Terris

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Pacem in Terris, or in English (full title) On Establishing Universal Peace in Truth, Justice, Charity and Liberty was a papal encyclical issued by Pope John XXIII on 11 April 1963. It remains one of the most famous of 20th century encyclicals and established principles that featured in some of the documents of the Second Vatican Council and of later popes. It was the last encyclical drafted by John XXIII; he was suffering from cancer when he drafted it and died two months after its completion.

In this work, known as a peace-encyclical, John XXIII reacted to the then current political situation. It was only two years after the erection of the Berlin Wall and only a few months after the Cuban Missile Crisis--in the middle of the Cold War. The Pope explains in this encyclical that conflicts "should not be resolved by recourse to arms, but rather by negotiation". He further emphasizes the importance of respect of human rights as an essential consequence of the Christian understanding of men. He clearly establishes,"...That every man has the right to life, to bodily integrity, and to the means which are suitable for the proper development of life..." The first section of the encyclical establishes the relationship between man and man as individuals, encompassing the issues of human rights and moral duties. The second section addresses the relationship between man and state, dwelling on the collective authority of the later. The third section establishes the need for equality amongst nations and the need for the state to be subject to rights and duties that the individual must abide by. The final section presents the need for greater relations between nations, thus resulting in collective states assisting other states. The encyclical ends with the urging of Catholics to assist non-Christians and non-Catholics in political and social aspects

Pacem in terris was the first encyclical that the Pope did not address to the Catholic faithful only, but also to "all men of good will".

Title

Its title, "Pacem in Terris", comes from the opening words of the encyclical's original Latin version:

"PACEM IN TERRIS, quam homines universi cupidissime quovis tempore appetiverunt, condi confirmarique non posse constat, nisi ordine, quem Deus constituit, sancte servato."

"Peace on earth, which all men of every era have most eagerly yearned for, can be firmly established only if the order laid down by God be dutifully observed."

See also

• Pacem in Terris Award

References

• Some of the information in this article is based on and/or translated from that in its German equivalent.

External links

• English Text
• Original Latin Text

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Last updated on Monday March 03, 2008 at 06:17:37 PST (GMT -0800)
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